Dx NOAA Weather Radio

[bb911]

Receiving NWS Hanford, CA. WNG-659, 162.425 MHz - El Paso Mountain. I live near Devore, CA and have *never* heard this station before. Mostly steady and full quieting for now, but drops out completely for about 10 seconds every so often. (Now nothing- heard for about 1/2 hr). Cobra mag mount base on top of AC outside, with about 12' of RG 58/U. Very old Antenna Specialists Low/Hi band antenna screwed onto the magnetic base. Alinco DJ-50VX 2m/70 cm. Nothing on my Pro-97 scanner.

 

[hill]

Yes it's most likely VHF ducting. Happens all the time in my area near the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

I use the NOAA Weather channels as a beacon for VHF propagation. Many times can hear all seven frequencies active during ducting events, rather that three hear on all other days.

See the link below to site that shows VHF enhancements.

VHF Propagation Map

aprs.mennolink.org

 

[bb911]

Thanks for the link to the good site. A well known Ham in Southern Cal, Gordon West (Gordo), has hit Hawaii from So Cal on 2m SSB. He's got some online videos about it. I should have connected one of my handheld antennas to see if I could have received anything.

 

[mmckenna]

Yeah, the VHF ducting has been all over the place with the recent weather. I have an AIS receiver and was getting a pretty steady 500-750 mile range on it for a few days straight last week. It's bouncing around now, likely due to hurricane remnants.

This site seems pretty accurate, too:

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_wam.html